We’re all going on a caravanning summer holiday

With bookings up by more than a fifth at UK caravan parks and predictions that two million extra caravan holidays may be taken in 2009, esure gives advice to Brits opting for a caravanning holiday this year on how to protect their valuables and make sure they have the right insurance cover for their trip.

Don't forget to buy travel insurance:

When booking your caravanning holiday, make sure you take out travel insurance cover at the same time. Even if you are only planning a trip within the UK rather than abroad it's important to ensure you are covered in case you suddenly fall ill and have to cancel at the last minute. esure travel insurance offers a single trip policy for travel in the UK and British holidays are covered as standard within any annual policy.

Check your cancellation cover:

Cancellation cover makes sure you're not left out of pocket if you need to cancel your trip perhaps on medical grounds or due to a redundancy in your party. esure travel insurance will pay up to a maximum of £5,000 if the policyholder is made redundant, or if a travelling companion, cohabiting spouse or partner are made redundant.

With the current health warnings about Swine Flu, the Government could decide to restrict movement within parts of the UK which may force holidaymakers to cancel their plans. Under esure travel insurance, policyholders could claim for full reimbursement of their caravanning holiday provided the site was booked in advance and was at least 40 miles from home.

Check what's covered by your home insurance:

Most home contents policies cover belongings when they are ‘temporarily removed from the home' against theft and damage - but check out if there are specific limits relating to caravans.

Caravans are less secure than other holiday accommodation, such as hotel rooms, due to the more limited security measures such as the quality of locks and window latches which means that there is a heightened risk of theft. esure home insurance covers caravan contents up to a maximum of £500.

Try to leave valuables at home, however, if you have a mobile phone, jewellery, DVD player, ipod or other hi-tech gadget, ideally carry it on your person or keep it hidden out of sight of opportunistic thieves within a locked caravan and inside a lockable cupboard or safe.

Consider adding personal possessions cover to your home insurance:

According to esure's in-house data, over a third (34 per cent) of adults have added personal possessions cover away from the home as part of their contents insurance. This would cover valuables for theft and damage whilst you're out and about - such as a handbag, rucksack or camera bag and their contents - for a small additional premium, up to a set limit. This gives peace of mind to holidaymakers who may be targeted by thieves when they're in tourist hotspots or busy public places.

Take your insurance documents with you:

Whether it's your car, home or travel insurance policy, make sure you take your insurance documents with you as having telephone numbers and policy particulars to hand is crucial if you need to make a claim.

Consider breakdown cover:

Towing a caravan will put an extra load on any car so it's important to make sure you've checked and maintained your vehicle before any long journey. But in case your vehicle does break down, consider adding this cover to your car insurance policy for an additional premium to lessen the impact on your holiday time. esure breakdown cover also applies to the breakdown of caravans and trailers as well as the car.

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure, said: "It's crucial for anyone looking to go away on a caravanning holiday - or a UK break of any other kind - to have the right cover to protect them and their possessions if the unexpected happens. Whether you need to cancel your caravan site booking or make a claim following a theft, having the appropriate insurance and taking the right precautions will make for a happier and more hassle-free caravanning holiday."

Terms and conditions apply to esure car, travel and home insurance.